3 by Duncan (yes, that Duncan) saves Spurs in Game 1

Published 5:30 am, Sunday, April 20, 2008

SAN ANTONIO — Midway through the first quarter after missing two jumpers, Tim Duncan threw the ball up yet again, then held his arms wide.

This time, would the shot fall?

It did. And much later, the Spurs' big man hit an even bigger one. Duncan's first 3 of the season with just ticks left sent his team into double overtime against the revenge-minded Phoenix Suns.

Then it was Manu Ginobili's turn, and his layup with 1.8 seconds left pushed the defending champions past the Suns 117-115 on Saturday in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

Now the teams have two days to rest from their marathon best-of-seven Western Conference opener before meeting for Game 2 on Tuesday night.

"I got a wide-open shot. Wound it up. Threw it up there and hoped for the best," said a clearly tired Duncan, who had 40 points and 15 rebounds.

This year's rematch of what many dubbed last year's real Finals — a tense and testy second-round series between the teams that the Spurs won in six games on their way to the title — got off to a wild start and more than met expectations.

Photo: Eric Gay, AP

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Tim Duncan launches the 3-pointer that tied the game at the end of the first overtime (left), then celebrates after it went through during the Spurs' win Saturday.

Tim Duncan launches the 3-pointer that tied the game at the end of the first overtime (left), then celebrates after it went through during the Spurs' win Saturday.

Photo: Eric Gay, AP

3 by Duncan (yes, that Duncan) saves Spurs in Game 1

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"It feels like a Finals game," Duncan said.

The Spurs took their first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter but were down 93-90 with 1:10 to go after Leandro Barbosa's fast-break layup.

With 15 seconds on the clock, Michael Finley tied it at 93 for the Spurs to send it to overtime.

"We had the game won a few times and just weren't tough enough or disciplined enough to make every single play when it counted," said Steve Nash, who had 25 points and 13 assists.

Duncan made the big shot in the first overtime. With his team down 104-101, Duncan found himself all alone at the 3-point line. After only a slight hesitation, he fired the ball and made it with 3 seconds to play. It was Duncan's first 3 of the season. He was 0-for-4.

In the second overtime, O'Neal's dunk tied it at 112 with 1:33 to play. Ginobili's layup put the Spurs ahead.

Nash missed a key 3 with less than a minute to play. After a risky, cross-court inbounds pass to the Spurs' Brent Barry, he was fouled. Barry made one of two free throws.

With 15 seconds left, the Suns went to sharpshooter Nash. Nearly falling out of bounds in the corner, he hit a 3 that made it 115-all.

Then Ginobili drove the lane against Raja Bell and got to the hoop, and his layup fell.

"What I knew, before taking it to the rim, is that Shaq and Amare (Stoudemire) were not there," Ginobili said. "So, I knew if I had the opportunity to go get in there, get some legs into the shot, I had an opportunity to finish."